Splendour In The Grass festival marred by drug finds

AAA

Published: 31-Jul-2012 07:46

An Australian festival featuring The Smashing Pumpkins, Jack White and Lana Del Rey was marred by a police crackdown which yielded hundreds of drug finds over the weekend.

Officers searched 730 revellers and 30 vehicles at Splendour in the Grass at Byron Bay, in New South Wales, and discovered 421 punters with illegal substances, including amphetamines, cocaine and ecstasy.

As a result, more than 192 people are due to appear in court over possession or supply charges. Police Superintendent Stuart Wilkins has expressed his disappointment in the results of the operation, while stressing the need to curb drug culture at music festivals.

He says, "Over 400 people were found in possession of prohibited drugs and that is simply unacceptable. This culture of drug-taking at music events needs to stop...

"Clearly there were people under the influence of drugs. It is a culture, there's no question about it."

Bloc Party, Gossip, The Shins, At The Drive-In and Kimbra also performed at the event, which was attended by more than 20,000 fans.